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The accepted terminology seems to be "colour mode". For example, you have a "32-bit colour mode" or "32-bit display mode"... this can consist of 10-bits per colour component (10R + 10G + 10B) and a 2-bit alpha channel. In fact, this is what Matrox do with the Parhelia. The same 32-bit mode could also consist of 8-bits per component and 8-bit alpha. Alpha channel information is never sent to a monitor - it is always combined with the colour components.

Originally posted by MuFu
The accepted terminology seems to be "colour mode". For example, you have a "32-bit colour mode" or "32-bit display mode"... this can consist of 10-bits per colour component (10R + 10G + 10B) and a 2-bit alpha channel. In fact, this is what Matrox do with the Parhelia. The same 32-bit mode could also consist of 8-bits per component and 8-bit alpha. Alpha channel information is never sent to a monitor - it is always combined with the colour components.